Iconic Kissing Sailor Was No Gentleman

Does the fact the kissing sailor photographed on V-J Day in 1945 did not exactly have the nurse’s permission to swallow her face change how you feel about the iconic photo? Feminist blog Crates and Ribbons notes that a round of recent press for the 67th anniversary of the end of World War II revealed that the nurse might appear weak-in-the-knees for reasons other than the victorious sailor’s virility. Such as terror and discomfort.

“It wasn’t my choice to be kissed. The guy just came over and grabbed!”

“I did not see him approaching, and before I knew it, I was in this vise grip.”

“You don’t forget this guy grabbing you.”

“That man was very strong. I wasn’t kissing him. He was kissing me.”

Also the sailor was on a date with a different woman at the time (she’s now his wife), and drunk. No one appears traumatized. Kind of makes Victory over Japan Day sound like your average college party.